General lack of vigilance proves a boon to thieves

Crime

Tuesday, February 8th, 2005 10:00 PM

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Thieves took advantage of numerous inattentive individuals in Oak Park and River Forest last week to steal cash or merchandise ranging in value from $6 to $1,200. Someone removed a wallet from a woman shopping at River Forest Town Center the morning of Feb. 6. An hour later one of her credit cards was used to purchase $1,077 in merchandise at a Best Buy.

? A man making inquiries Feb. 1 at Spikes, 725 Madison, is suspected in the theft of an unattended $1,200 laptop computer.

? A Melrose Park man had his unattended book bag stolen from the bench he was sitting on in the 300 block of North Harlem the evening of Feb. 3. Loss was $405.

? Someone took $60 from a wallet sitting in a shopping cart in the Jewel Store at 7036 Roosevelt Rd the afternoon of Feb. 3.

? An unsecured, unattended wallet containing $6 was stolen at Oak Park and River Forest High School Feb. 2.

? Someone removed a wallet from a purse hanging at Erik's Deli, 107 N. Oak Park Ave. on Feb. 5. The loss was $130, including miscellaneous credit cards and ID.

? A man walked in to the library office at Dominican University around 6 p.m. and stole a woman's wallet. One of her credit cards was subsequently used at a pizza place and another restaurant.

? A woman had her wallet lifted from the back of a chair in Mancini's Pizza, 1038 Lake St. Feb. 1.

Burglary

A large piece of concrete was tossed through the glass front door of the State Farm Insurance office at 310 Chicago Ave. just before midnight Feb 1. A computer monitor valued at $1,300 was stolen.

? Someone entered an unlocked rear door of a home in the 800 block of North Kenilworth the afternoon of Feb. 2. They stole a DVD player and a digital camera.

? The deadbolt of a home in the 1500 block of North Austin Blvd. was pried open the afternoon of Feb. 2. the bedroom was ransacked and a television and stereo stolen

? The deadbolt of the front door of a residence in the 600 block of Fair Oaks was broken with a pry bar during the day on Jan. 31. A bedroom was ransacked and two jars of coins were stolen. Loss and damage totaled $730.

Burglary to auto

Someone broke the front passenger window of a 2001 Dodge Durango in the 900 block of Wesley Avenue overnight Feb. 6. They stole two cell phones, numerous CDs, and $500 in cash. Loss was $1,000.

? A Davey's Tree Service truck had two chain saws and other equipment stolen from it the afternoon of Jan. 31.

? Someone broke the front passenger window of a Chevy Cavalier parked in a lot in the 300 block of North Harlem Avenue during the day Feb. 4. They stole a purse containing a passport and miscellaneous cosmetics. Loss was $200.

? Someone entered an unlocked 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix in the 600 block of Madison Ave. the morning of Feb. 6 and stole a cell phone and miscellaneous IDs and credit cards. Loss was $200.

? An unlocked BMW 325 i in the 700 block of South Lombard was relieved of an iPod and miscellaneous change overnight on Jan. 30.

? Timothy McNeal, 42, of 112 S. Harvey, was arrested the afternoon of Jan. 31 after he was allegedly observed testing car door handles near Pleasant Avenue and East Avenue. He reportedly took a CD player from a Chevy, and also entered a Ford Escort.

Domestic battery arrests

Alonzo G. Ortega, Jr. 17, of Chicago was arrested Feb. 6 after allegedly scratching an Oak Park woman in the 700 block of Garfield Street several times while reportedly detaining her on a bed.

? Armstrong Onyenso, 53, of the 1100 block of South Ridgeland was arrested Feb. 2 on a warrant related to an alleged Jan. 14 domestic battery incident.

Retail theft

LaTonya Jones, Keshaa Johnson, April Moore and Tina Mosely were arrested around 8 p.m. on Jan. 31 after the manager of Linens and Things in the River Forest Town Center flagged down a River Forest officer. The four allegedly stole $429.90 in bedding from the store.

? Two men entered a retail clothing store at 30 Chicago Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Feb. 2. They exited with two pair of Nike Air Jordans, and were last seen running northbound on Humphrey Avenue.

? Markeith Lee, 29, was arrested on Felony Retail Theft charges after allegedly stealing a quantity of deodorant from the CVS Pharmacy, 7929 W. North Ave. the evening of Feb. 2. A name check reportedly found that Lee was also wanted by Chicago Police and the Cook County Sheriff. Harvey D. Hardaway, 37, was charged with misdemeanor Retail Theft and for Driving With License Suspended.

? Maya Fortier, 35, was arrested after allegedly taking six steaks from the Whole Foods Market, 7245 Lake St. the afternoon of Jan. 31. An alleged accomplice, David A. Hernadez, reportedly escaped with 14 steaks.

Outside arrest

Walter Homer, 54, of 5938 W. Lake St., Chicago was stopped for riding a bike the wrong way in the street the morning of Feb. 2. A search turned up a 5-inch Butterfly knife and a name check revealed he was wanted by the Cook County Sheriff on a bond forfeiture warrant.

? Fatima Royster, 27, of 222 Washington Blvd. was pulled over just after 6 a.m. for an alleged minor traffic violation. She reportedly had active warrants from both La Grange and Du Page County for driving on a suspended license.

Deceptive practice

A "tall woman" attempted to make a purchase at Tweeters, 7201 Lake St. the afternoon of Feb. 2. She left the store without her fictitious driver's license or the stolen Visa card that had been taken 90 minutes earlier in a purse snatching.

Possession of controlled substance

A female Oak Park juvenile was arrested the morning of Feb. 2 near Lake Street and Austin Blvd. for the attempted sale of a controlled substance. She was also found to be in possession of a knife.

? The above reported incidents were gleaned from the Oak Park and River Forest police departments from Jan. 30 through Feb. 6. Not all incidents that occurred are listed. Anyone named in reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated.